Extended leave & LWOP
Whether planned or unplanned, taking extended leave or leave without pay (LWOP) can impact your income both now and in the future.
We explain how your leave effects your defined benefit.
Fund rules differ
Select your fund to view the details
- CSS
- DFRDB
- MilitarySuper
- PSS
For leave without pay (LWOP), the type and length of LWOP determines whether contributions are payable or not.
- Generally, contributions are always due during periods of LWOP for 12 weeks or less, with Maternity/Parental leave being the exception.
- For LWOP of more than 12 weeks, contributions may or may not be due, depending on the type of LWOP.
Where they are due, you must contribute at least 5%, you cannot contribute at 0%.
The Details
The below table shows common LWOP scenarios, and whether contributions are payable or not.
Key
- TCAS = To Count as Service. Member contributions are due. Productivity contributions will be paid, and contributory service will continue to accrue.
- NTCAS = Not to Count as Service. Member contributions are not due and cannot be paid (neither basic nor supplementary). Productivity contributions are not paid, and contributory service does not accrue.
Note: We use these terms informally for CSS purposes, but employers also use them for their own payroll purposes (e.g. for leave accruals). If your employer states a period of LWOP is NTCAS, it does not necessarily mean that it is NTCAS for CSS purposes, and vice versa. We encourage you to contact us to check.
|
Leave Purpose |
Less Than 12 Weeks |
More Than 12 Weeks |
|
Sickness |
TCAS. You must elect basic contribution rate of 0% or 5%. |
TCAS. You must pay basic contributions of 5%. |
|
Compensation |
TCAS. You must elect basic contribution rate of 0% or 5%. |
TCAS. You must pay basic contributions of 5%. |
|
Miscellaneous |
TCAS. You must elect basic contribution rate of 0% or 5%. |
NTCAS, unless you ask to pay contributions and your employer agrees to cover superannuation costs. If your employer agrees, you must pay basic contributions of 5% for the entire period. |
|
Public interest |
TCAS – criteria applies* |
TCAS – criteria applies. If approved, you must pay basic contributions of 5%. |
|
Maternity/Parental Leave |
NTCAS, however you can elect to contribute. You must pay basic contributions at 5%, but can start and stop as often as you want without needing your employer's permission. |
NTCAS, however you can elect to contribute. You must make basic contributions at 5%, but can start and stop as often as you want without needing the employer's permission. |
*LWOP in the Public Interest is where you take LWOP from your usual employer (parent employer) to commence a period of non-eligible employment (temporary employer) where CSS membership is usually unavailable. If the agency head or equivalent of the parent employer certifies the employment is in the interest of the APS/agency and the temporary employer agrees to meet super costs, then contributions are due. Both conditions must be met. A contribution rate of 0% is not permitted for the member's basic contributions. A member must pay a 5% basic contribution. 0% is not permitted for your basic contributions.
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Leave without pay (LWOP)
This factsheet is for PSS members who are going on Leave Without Pay (LWOP).